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“You can thank me by getting some fucking sleep.”

He pulls me in for a hug, holding onto me longer than one man should hold another, but I don’t care how it looks. This man is going to be the one who walks my bride down the aisle someday.

I owe him everything.

Chapter Forty-Three

Lexie

My gaze drifts softly over the hazy image of Ash as he talks to JD on the porch. Every few seconds the wind blows the curtains open long enough for me to get a clear view.

JD walks in, leaving Ash on the porch by himself. He spins in a circle, his hands shoved in his pockets. On the second time around, he spots me. He gives me a little wave.

“Ash wants to see you,” JD says, standing in front of me. There’s no beating around the bush with these people.

I turn back to Ash. We stare at each other for a moment. My mind tells me to hurry up and say yes, but my heart whispers to take a pause. He jumps off the porch and walks over to the window, pressing his hand against the screen.

It takes me a minute to realize that he’s a mere breath away from me. My hand slides behind the gauzy curtains and presses against his palm. He’s warm and real, and most of all, he’s here. He never gives up on me.

JD clears his throat. “Do you want me to throw him off the property? ‘Cause I’ll do it.”

Ash flashes me a smile, hearing him.

“I was just soaking in the moment. Jeez, so extreme. Ash, would you like to come in?”

He doesn’t even wait for me to finish my sentence before he’s running toward the door. It opens, and he slides into the kitchen.

It makes me giggle.

JD looks at the ceiling in disappointment. “I said to approach her calmly. This is not it,” he scolds.

“Shit, I’m sorry. When I saw her pretty face in the window, my brain shut off.”

This doesn’t make JD any happier. “Now I’ve got to worry you’re going to turn into a complete idiot every time you’re around her.”

Ash smiles wide. “Don’t worry. I won’t lock her in the basement.”

A laugh bursts from my chest, and I can’t stop it. “Oh, oh, god. That was good. Oh god, I’m sorry. I … ugh, I can’t stop.” I hold my stomach.

JD walks over and thumps me on the end of my nose. “Brat.”

It only makes me laugh harder. “I’m sorry. You’ve got to admit that was funny!”

JD doesn’t agree. “I’ll be outside,” he says dryly, but he turns and winks at me before he walks out the door.

Ash bounces on his toes nervously and shoves his hands in his back pockets.

There’s something special about Ash Taylor. He makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Maybe I should start acting like one.

“If you help me to the couch, we can sit together.” I hold both of my hands out to him.

He stares at me for a moment and then jumps into action. He pulls me to stand and then helps me with my crutches. “Does it hurt?”

“It did the first week, but it doesn’t really hurt now.”

Once we’re settled with my legs resting over his lap, we stare at each other. No words are needed. We’re just happy to be sitting next to one another.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date tomorrow night?” he finally asks after several minutes.